Peshawar, Jan 28 : There is a growing feeling of insecurity amongst the Sikh community in Pakistan following the kidnapping of two Sikhs from Peshawar and Khyber Agency during the last several weeks. A Sikh medical technician Mohinder Singh was kidnapped in November last year from his house in Khyber Agency. His chopped body was later found in a deserted place in Khyber Agency in December.

The government is yet to provide any compensation to the family of the slain person, reports The News. Last week, another 40-year old clothes dealer was kidnapped from near his house in Peshawar. Residents said Raghbir Singh, the father of four, was on way back home from a nearby worship place when gunmen overpowered him, bundled him into their vehicle and shifted him to an unknown location.

Former deputy attorney general Khurshid Khan said the Sikh community is disturbed over the two incidents. The Sikh is a peaceful community and they were never involved in any kind of crime but they have been suffering these incidents for the last few years, Khan said.

Around 3,000 members of the Sikh community have settled in Peshawar, mostly in Dabgari, while hundreds others are living in Khyber and Orakzai agencies and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The local Sikh community members said they have lodged an FIR in the kidnapping of Raghbir but no progress has been reported so far.

The elders of the community also met Haroon Bilour, Advisor to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, to seek his help in early and safe recovery of Raghbir. Haroon has assured his support to the community. A few years ago, a
33-year old Sikh IT professional, Robin Singh, was kidnapped from the city who returned home safe and sound.

Before Robin, three other members of the community were kidnapped from Khyber Agency in January 2010. One of them, Jaspal Singh, was later killed on February 21 while Gurvindar Singh and Sarjeet Singh were recovered on March 1 during a military operation. (ANI)